| Efficient deployment of mobile test units to gather location-dependent radio-frequency data -> Monitor Keywords |
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Efficient deployment of mobile test units to gather location-dependent radio-frequency dataEfficient deployment of mobile test units to gather location-dependent radio-frequency data description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080077472, Efficient deployment of mobile test units to gather location-dependent radio-frequency data. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications in general, and, in particular, to a technique for efficiently deploying mobile test units to gather location-dependent radio-frequency data. BACKGROUND [0002]FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of the salient components of wireless telecommunications system 100 in accordance with the prior art. Wireless telecommunications system 100 comprises: wireless switching center 101, network operations center 102, base stations 103-1 and 103-2, GPS constellation 105, Internet 107, wireless terminal 111 and mobile test unit 112. Wireless telecommunications system 100 provides wireless telecommunications service to wireless terminal 111 throughout geographic region 120, in well-known fashion. [0003]The effective operation of wireless telecommunications system 100 requires a plurality of radio-frequency analysis tools that are calibrated using empirical data from throughout geographic region 120. Whenever empirical data is needed for a tool, a drive-test plan is designed and implemented which directs mobile test unit 112 to various locations in geographic region 120. When the mobile test unit is at those locations, it makes a measurement of the signals of interest. The data is then delivered to network operations center 102 where it is used to calibrate the radio-frequency analysis tool. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004]The deployment of a mobile test unit to gather empirical radio-frequency data is expensive, and the present invention deploys mobile test units without some of the costs and disadvantages for doing so in the prior art. [0005]In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a drive-test plan is implemented which is chosen to satisfy, at least partially, the requests for empirical data from a plurality of radio-frequency analysis tools. In some cases, this is more economically efficient than a separate drive-test plan to satisfy each request. The efficiency can arise not only when the deployment of the mobile test unit to one location results in data for a plurality of requests, but also when there is no location where data can be obtained for a plurality of requests. The latter is especially true when the initial and terminal costs for deploying a mobile test unit into the field are high. [0006]In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, one candidate drive-test plan is chosen for implementation over a second based on an economic cost-benefit analysis of both plans. This is in marked contrast to, for example, a selection of drive-test plans, or the design of a drive-test plan, based on a calibration-cost analysis, in which the data estimated to be the most effective to calibrate a radio-frequency tool is sought for a given cost or the least cost. Although a data-estimated-to-be-most-effective-to-calibrate-a-radio-frequency-tool vs. cost analysis is a species of cost-benefit analyses in general, it is not an economic cost-benefit analysis because a data-estimated-to-be-most-effective-to-calibrate-a-radio-frequency-tool vs. cost analysis has deficiencies that an economic cost-benefit analysis does not. [0007]First, an economic cost-benefit analysis, in contrast to a data-estimated-to-be-most-effective-to-calibrate-a-radio-frequency-tool vs. cost analysis, ensures that the economic value resulting from the drive-test plan exceeds the cost of implementing the plan. This value can be determined with respect to the entity that is the ultimate consumer of the data, to the entity designing the drive-test plan, to the entity that is employed to gather the data, or to another entity. [0008]Second, an economic cost-benefit analysis, in contrast to a data-estimated-to-be-most-effective-to-calibrate-a-radio-frequency-tool vs. cost analysis, provides a rational common-denominator for choosing a drive-test plan that seeks to satisfy, at least partially, the requests for empirical data from a plurality of radio-frequency analysis tools with different technical requirements for empirical data. This is essential to the implementation of an economically-efficient drive-test plan that seeks to satisfy, at least partially, the requests for empirical data that are discordant. [0009]In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a variety of factors are used to determine the cost of a candidate drive-test plan. These factors include, but are not limited to, [0010]i. the cost of the mobile test unit(s) required for the plan; and [0011]ii. the cost of the time required to complete for the drive-test plan; and [0012]iii. the cost of the personnel required for the drive-test plan; and [0013]iv. the cost of lodging, meals, transportation, and logistical support for the personnel required for the drive-test plan; and [0014]v. the cost of a cost overrun as a function of the probability of the cost overrun (e.g., 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, and 200%, etc.) for the drive-test plan given uncontrollable factors (e.g., weather, road closures, incorrect road maps, etc.); and [0015]vi. the cost of a completion delay as a function of the probability of the delay (e.g., 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 100%, and 200%, etc.) for the drive-test plan given uncontrollable factors (e.g., weather, road closures, incorrect road maps, etc.). [0016]In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a variety of factors are used to determine the cost of a candidate drive-test plan. These factors include, but are not limited to, [0017]i. an estimate of the likelihood that the signal of interest can be isolated (e.g., decoded, etc.) from noise when a mobile test unit visits each location of interest as proposed in accordance with the plan; and [0018]ii. a characterization of the electromagnetic clutter at the frequency of the signal of interest for each location to be visited by a mobile test unit in accordance with the plan; and [0019]iii. a characterization of the terrain at each location to be visited by a mobile test unit in accordance with the plan; and [0020]iv. a characterization of the population density at each location to be visited by a mobile test unit in accordance with the plan; and [0021]v. a characterization of the proximity of at each location to be visited by a mobile test unit in accordance with the plan to a transportation facility (e.g., highway, railroad, rail station, airport, etc.); and [0022]vi. for each location to be to be visited in accordance with a plan, the existence in RF data database 413 of a previous measurement of the trait of interest of the signal of interest and the age of that previous measurement; and [0023]vii. the fact that in accordance with the drive-test plan a measurement of the trait of the signal will be made at location P and a location R. The purpose of this factor is to reduce the benefit of drive-test plans that comprise measurements at locations that are superfluous. [0024]viii. the fact that in accordance with the drive-test plan a measurement of the trait of the signal will be made at location P but not made at a location S. The purpose of this factor is to increase the benefit of drive-test plans measurements that avoid gaps in coverage; and [0025]ix. the fact that in accordance with the drive-test plan a measurement of the trait of the signal will be made at location P but not made at a location Q, the existence in RF data database 413 of a previous measurement of a trait of a signal at location Q, the age of that previous measurement, and the distance between the location P and location Q. [0026]Some embodiments of the present invention comprise: determining a drive-test plan to satisfy a request for empirical data for an electromagnetic signal in a geographic region request using an economic cost-benefit analysis, wherein the drive-test plan proposes a measurement of the electromagnetic signal at each of a non-empty set of locations L. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0027]FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of the salient components of wireless telecommunications system 100 in accordance with the prior art. [0028]FIG. 2 depicts a diagram of the salient components of wireless telecommunications system 200 in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. [0029]FIG. 3 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of network operations center 202-i in accordance with the illustrative embodiment, wherein i.epsilon.{0, 1}. [0030]FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of the salient components of RF data server 204 in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. [0031]FIG. 5 depicts a flowchart of the salient processes performed in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. [0032]FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks performed in accordance with task 502. [0033]FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of the salient tasks associated with task 603 in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention. [0034]FIG. 8a depicts geographic region 220 partitioned into a 25.times.18 array of B=450 two-dimensional locations. [0035]FIG. 8a depicts a detailed map of geographic location 220 that includes all road information and, in particular, a map of the waypoints to which a mobile test unit can be directed for a measurement by the mobile test unit and base stations 203-1-1, 203-1-2, 203-2-1, and 203-2-2. 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